One pipe heating system regulating plate



D. N. CROSTHWAIT, JR

ONE PIPE HEATING SYSTEM REGULATING- PLATE Filed Aug. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 or Wait] Imfe m. 217M822 Mas/ D. N. CROSTHWAIT, JR

ONE PIPE HEATING SYSTEM REGULATING PLATE Filed Aug 24; 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ara Q n19? UzwifiavzkV/ Ja a Patented Dec. 14, 1937 ONE PIPE HEATING Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in one-pipe heating system regulating plate, and more particularly to improved means for controlling the continuous sup- 5 ply of steam to a radiator, and the continuous drainage of condensate from the radiator, in a one-pipe heating system in which a single pipe leading into a lower portion of the radiator serves to supply the steam and drain out the condensate. l Diificulty has. hitherto been encountered in the so-oalled one-pipe type of. steam heating system in properly restricting and proportioning the continuous flow of steam at low or dimina ished pressures into the several radiators, while at the same time continuously draining condensate from the radiators. According to the present invention, an improved form of regulat ing plate is provided in the supply and drain pipe adjacent each radiator inlet. Thisplate is provided with two separate and constantly open orifices, one for restricting or metering the flow of steam into the radiator, and the other for permitting the controlled outflow of condensate from 25, the radiator. This regulating device is simple and comprises no moving parts. The drainage orifice is so formed as to provide awater seal and not permit the flow of steam therethrough to the radiator, while at the same time it will serve to accumulate a head of water within the radiator or at the inlet side of the plate sufficient to overbalance the difference in pressures existing at the two sides of the plate and permit the condensate to gravitate out from the radiator and thence drain down through the supply pipe. At the same time, nowater drains through the steam orifice, which is constantly open so as to permit a free and continuous steam flow there through. M l V The principal object of this invention is'to provide an improved one-pipe steam heating system of the type briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved regulating or orifice plate for one-pipe steam heating systems.

Another object is toprovide a regulating plate that is noiseless and provides for the continuous and separate flow of steam and condensate therethrough in opposite directions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following de- 55' tailed description of certain approved forms of ATEN'i Fit. 7

SYSTEM REGULATING P ATE.

David N. Crosthwait, Jr., Marshalltown, Iowa,

assignor to C. A. 'Dunham Company, Marshalltown, Iowa, a. corporation of Iowa Application August'zi, 1936, Serial No. 97,636

apparatus constructed and operating according to the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic showing of one example of a one-pipe steam heating system in which the improvements of this invention may be utilized.

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation and partial central vertical section, on a larger scale, through the steam inlet and drainage valve and the lower portion of a radiator.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the regulating plates.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through this plate taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through an inlet valve and a different form of regulating plate.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the principal elements of the heating system include the generator A, main steam supply pipe B, radiators C and C, radiator inlet valves D and D, main steam control'valve E, steam trap F, return trap G, and air eliminator I-l.

Relatively high pressure steam flows from generator A through outlet pipe I and horizontal pipe 2, communicating with the upper end of the equalizing stand pipe 3 which in turn is connected by pipe t with the water space within the boiler. It will be understood that the pipe loop comprising the elements just named will be under boiler pressure and filled with water up to the level indicated generally at a. Pipe 2 is in com-' munication through pipe 5 with the inlet end of the main supply pipe B. The control or reducing valve E, positioned near the inlet end of main B, controls the flow of steam into the supply main B'so that a supply of steam will be maintained therein at a predetermined reduced pressure. Valve E will usually be controlled thermostatically so that the pressure of the steam supply in main B will be varied in accordance with the heat requirements of the system. Any approved thermostatic control system can be used and these features have not here been illustrated. If desired, the reducing valve E can be cut off by closing the valves 6 and l, and the steam supply shunted through pipe 8 provided with the manually controlled cut-off valve 9. Steam at the pressure maintained in supply main B will now up through the several risers lil and'inlet 50 valves D into the radiators C. At the same time, condensate from the radiators will drain back through risers Ill into the supply main B, which is preferably installed at a slight angle so that the condensate will drain toward. the discharge end of the main, here indicated at the right hand side of the drawings. The particular improvements of the present invention are located in the inlet valves D or between these valves and the radiators, and will be hereinafter described in detail.

The condensate flows from supply main B through the trap F, preferably a float and thermostatic trap of the type here shown, such trap functioning to prevent the escape of steam from main B while at the'samc time permitting a free flow of condensate therefrom. The condensate drains from trap F through pipe I I into the stand pipe l2 which communicates at its upper end with the air eliminator H of known form. The condensate flows from the lower portion of pipe 12 through pipe l3 into the lower portion of a second stand pipe M which communicates at its upper end with the return trap G which is positioned above the water level a of the generator but suificiently below the supply main so that all condensate will drain thereinto through the pipe connections just described. The lower portion of stand pipe I4 is connected through pipes l5 and I 6 with the equalizing pipe 3 adjacent the boiler so that water may be forced from return trap G into the boiler or generator. One-way valves ll and iii are located in the pipes l3 and I5, respectively, these valves opening only toward the boiler. The return trap G is of well known form having a low-pressure pipe connection l9 with the air eliminator H, and also communicating through equalizing pipe 2!] with the supply main B. This equalizing pipe 20 is provided with a one-way valve 2| opening only toward the supply pipe B so as to prevent the pressure in the return side of the system rising above the pressure existing in the supply pipe. In this way. no matter how low the pressure may be in the supply main B, the pressure in the return side of the system cannot normally be higher so as to prevent the drainage of condensate into trap G. A second high pressure pipe 22 leads from the high pressure side of the system (for example the pipe 3) to the return trap G. Float-controlled valves in the return trap G control the alternative communication of pipes I 9 or 22 therewith. Ordinarily the high pressure pipe 22 will be cut off and the low pressure pipe l9 in open communication with the trap so that condensate can drain from the heating system into this trap. When a sufficient quantity of condensate has accumulated in the trap, the float will close the valve leading to low pressure pipe l9 and open the valve leading from high pressure pipe 22 so that the accumulated condensate in the trap will be put under boiler pressure and will then drain down through pipes I4, I5, l6 and 3 into the boiler. At this time the one-way valve ll will prevent the back flow of condensate into the drainage system. When the drain pipes are under the low pressure, one-way valve I8 will prevent water from being forced thereinto from the generator.

It will be understood that a suitable pumping system might be substituted for the return trap G for returning condensate to the boiler, and that other suitable variations might be made in this heating system which is shown to illustrate one type of one-pipe heating system adapted to continuously supply steam at a determined pressure to the radiators and at the same time permit the drainage of condensate therefrom.

The particular improvements of this invention will now be described, referring first to Figs. 2, 3

and 4. The riser i0 is connected at 23 into the lower portion of valve casing 24 of inlet valve D. The inlet port 25 is surrounded by the annular valve seat 26 against which valve 21 is adapted to be closed down by the hand operated mechanism, indicated at 28, so as to shut ofi the flow of steam to the radiator. Normally the valve will be open, as indicated in Fig. 2. The lateral extension 29 of the valve casing surrounds the outlet port 30 and is connected by union 3| with the short horizontal pipe section 32 communicating through port 33 with one end of radiator C adjacent the bottom thereof.

Usually a suitable regulating plate or orificeplate will be located somewhere within this pipe connection between the inlet valve and radiator to meter or control the flow of steam into the radiator in accordance with the size or location of the radiator so as to properly proportion the supply of steam thereto relative to other radiators in the system. Each regulating plate will be provided with an orifice of suitable size, determined by the rate or volume of steam flow required to supply the needs of that particular radiator. Obviously, if an orifice plate of the type just described were used in a one-pipe heating system, the condensate would have to drain back through this same orifice or opening. The opposed flows of steam and water through this orifice tend to trap water within the radiator, cause undesired fluctuations or inequalities in the steam fiow to the radiator, and in other ways provide an inconstant, noisy and imperfect operation.

According to the present invention, an improved form of regulating plate K is used provided with two separate orifices, one for the passage of steam therethrough in one direction and the other for the passage of condensate therethrough in the opposite direction. These orifices are constantly open and of constant effective size. The plate may be mounted in a vertical position in the horizontal pipe leading to the radiator in any approved manner. As here shown, the plate is provided with an outer peripheral flange portion 34 which is clamped between the adjacent pipe fittings by means of the connecting union 3|. In the upper portion of this plate is a steam orifice 35 which is preferably circular and of a size determined by the steam requirements of the radiator, which in turn, depends upon the size and capacity of the radiator and its position in the heating system. In the lower portion of the plate K is provided a second orifice 36 for the out-flow of condensate.

The overflow lip 31 at the lower edge of this of the orifice 36 so that the lower inlet 40 to the orifice is at or below the minimum water level within the radiator. This inlet 40 will therefore be water-sealed by the accumulated condensate within the radiator so that steam cannot flow through this lower orifice 36.

As is well known, due to the rapid condensation of steam within the radiator, the steam pressure within the radiator will be materially lower than the pressure within the supply pipe I0 and inlet valve D, and consequently this pressure 2,102,197 differential will tend to hold back or trap the condensate within the radiator. Thisis particularly true when a single relatively small orifice is used for both the passage of steam and condensate. With the present improved construction this pressure differential will tend to hold back the flow of condensate throughnrifice 36 so that the water level within the radiator will rise above the height of the overflow lip 31', as indicated in Fig. 2. This wilfprovide a head of a water within the radiator sufficient to overbalance the difference in pressures between "the in terior of the radiator and the supply pipe and. cause the condensate to fiow out through orifice T 36 and thence through the inlet valve and down the outer sides of supply pipe Hi, as indicatedin Fig. 2. This flow of water is somewhat exaggerated in the drawings, andit will be understood that the valve ports and supply pipe Iii are of sufficient size and capacityso that this outflow of condensate does not interfere with the freefiow of steam upwardly toward the radiator; It will be understood that sufficient head of water will be provided to cause the, outfiow of condensate before the water level within {the radiator'has risen to the lower'edge of the upper orifice 65, and consequently there will never be any flowof condensate through this upper steam orifice to interfere with'the free flow of steam therethrough.

It will be noted that both orifices are normally and continuously open and that there are no moving parts or valves to cause noise or to become clogged and hence inoperative. Since the forces available at this location are very low, there is a tendency toward incrustat-ion which causes any devices with moving parts to stick and become inoperative or to leak as a result of the deposit of solid materials adjacent the orifices. Both orifices are constantly opened, thus permitting a substantially constant and continuous how of fluids in both directions through the regulating plate, and this device K is particularly adapted for use in systems designed to maintain a continuous supply of steam at very low pressure within the radiators.

A modified form of regulating device is shown in Fig. 5. This device is adapted to be positioned in the inlet port 25 at the upper-end of supply pipe or riser It. The regulatingplate K is provided with an outwardly and downwardlycurved lip 4| at its outer edge adapted to rest on the valve seat 26. The plate is then provided with a larger outer downwardly projecting tubular portion 42, and a smaller upwardly projecting tubular portion 43 surrounds the steam orifice 44.

Condensate will drain from the radiator into the annular channel 45 surrounding the steam orifice 44. A smaller downwardly projecting tubular member 46 extends from channel 45 and has a laterally turned lower end 8'! opening at '58 adjacent one of the inner'side walls of riser Hi. The condensate will collect in channel 65 and flow out throughpipe 45 without ever entering the steam passage or interfering with the upward flow of steam therethrough. The fullvelocity head of steam flowing up through pipe H! and through steam passage 44 will not interfere with the drainage of condensate through tube 46 and its laterally turned outlet'end which terminates adjacent one of the side walls of the conduit iii. It will be noted that the condensate is discharged in a'region of low velocity adjacent the side wall of the pipe. If the upward steam pressure should tend to interfere with the outflow of condensate through pipe 46, sufficient condensate will collect in channel 45 and pipe to to overcome. this steam pressure,'and the condensate will then flow down through the drain pipe. As in the first described form of the invention; both the steam and condensajte passages are constantly opened, and the outflow of condensate does not interfere in any way with the continuous upward flow of steam through passage 44 to'the radiator. I I claim:

1. In a steam heating system, a radiator, a conduit communicating'with a lower portion of the radiator and functioning to supply steam to the radiator and drain condensate therefrom, andaregulating platein said conduit, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, one for the restricted passage of steam to the radiator and the other for the passageof condensate from the radiator, the condensate orifice being so formed and positioned as to hold a head of water at the radiator side of open orifices, comprising an upper orifice servmg to permit and-regulate the passage of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice serving to drain "condensate from the radiator, the lower orificeopening downwardly at the radiator side of the plate so as to provide a liquid seal and hold ahead of water within the radiator sufiicient to overbalance the difference in steam pressures at the two sides of the plate.

3.' In a steam heating system,a radiator, a conduit communicating with a lower portion of the radiator and functioning to supply steam to the radiator and drain condensate therefrom. and a regulating plate in said conduit, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly'open orifices, comprising an upper orifice serving to permit and regulate the passage of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice serving to drain condensate from the radiator, the lower .orifice being positioned vertically in the plate so that its sides will be at approximately the same horizontal level and seal the orifice except for the passage of condensate when the liquid level in the radiator rises to the height of this orifice.

i. In a steam heating system, a radiator, a conduit communicating horizontally with a lower portion of the radiator and functioning to supply steam to the radiator and drain condensate.

therefrom, and a substantially vertically positioned regulating plate in said conduit, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly 'open orifices, comprising an upper orifice for the restricted passage of a regulated flow of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice for the passage of condensate from the radiatorz the lower orifice being formed to hold a head of water at the radiator side of the orifice sufficient plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper orifice for the restricted passage of a regulated flow of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice for the passage of condensate from the radiator, and a dam positioned adjacent the lower orifice at the radiator side of the plate and closing the top and sides of the orifice so as to hold a head of water within the radiator sufiicient to overbalance the difference in steam pressures at the two sides of the plate.

6. In a steam heating system, a radiator, a conduit communicating horizontally With a lower portion of the radiator and functioning to supply steam to the radiator and drain condensate therefrom, and a substantially vertically positioned regulating plate in said conduit, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper orifice for the restricted passage of a regulated flow of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice for the passage of condensate from the radiator, the plate being formed with a laterally and downwardly extending web enclosing the top and sides of the lower orifice at the radiator side of the plate and projecting down to the level of the lower side of the orifice so as to seal this orifice except for the passage of liquid when the liquid level rises to this height within the radiator.

'7. In a steam heating system, a radiator, a conduit communicating horizontally with a lower portion of the radiator and functioning to supply steam to the radiator and drain condensate therefrom, and a substantially vertically positioned regulating plate in said conduit, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper orifice for the restricted passage of a regulated flow of steam to the radiator, and a lower orifice for the passage of condensate from the radiator, the lower orifice being so formed that its inlet at the radiator side of the plate opens downwardly to provide a water seal and hold a head of water within the radiator sufiicient to overbalance the diiTerence in steam pressures at the two sides of the plate.

8. A regulating plate adapted to be positioned vertically within a horizontal supply and drain pipe of a one-pipe steam heating system, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper steam fiow regulating orifice and a lower orifice through which condensate may drain in a direction opposed to the direction of steam flow, the lower orifice opening in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate between the portion of the plate below the orifice and a laterally disposed web portion having its lower edge projecting down to the horizontal plane of the upper edge of the plate portion below the orifice, so that a head of water may be held at one side of the plate to provide a water seal for the lower orifice.

9. A regulating plate adapted to be positioned vertically within a horizontal supply and drain pipe of a one-pipe steam heating system, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper steam flow regulating orifice and a lower orifice through which condensate may drain in a direction opposed to the direction of steam flow, the lower orifice opening in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate between the portion of the plate below the orifice and a laterally disposed web portion enclosing the top and sides of the lower orifice and projecting downwardly to the horizontal plane of the upper edge of the plate portion below the orifice, so that a head of water may be held at one side of the plate to provide a water seal for the lower orifice.

10. A regulating plate adapted to be positioned vertically within a horizontal supply and drain pipe of a one-pipe steam heating system, said plate being formed with two separate and constantly open orifices, comprising an upper steam fiow regulating orifice opening through the upper portion of the plate at right-angles thereto and a lower orifice through which condensate may drain in a direction opposed to the direction of steam flow, thelower orifice opening in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the plate between the portion of the plate below the orifice and a laterally disposed web portion en closing the top and sides of the lower orifice and projecting downwardly to the horizontal plane of the upper edge of the plate portion below the orifice, so that a head of water may be held at one side of the plate to provide a water seal for the lower orifice.

DAVID N. CROSTHWAIT, JR. 

